Documentary | Film & Photo Production

The Spanish Civil War made a great impression on the lives of most of the American artists of the 20th Century. Lots of films were made in Hollywood referring to this event, and the defeat of the Democratic Spain let an "open wound" in the heart of liberal actors, directors and screenwriters. The coherent life of screenwriter Alvah Bessie is our track through this feeling. From his fighting in Spain with the Abraham Lincoln Brigades in 1937 to his return to Spain 30 years later, where he was required to write his only film after being blacklisted as one of the "Hollywood Ten". This is an original approach to one of the most controversial subjects of our times: the relationship between film industry and politics.

A look at the parallel lives of Charles Chaplin and Adolf Hitler and how they crossed with the creation of The Great Dictator (1940).

This documentary tells the story of film director Aleksandr Medvedkin, throughout his life a sincere believer in communism, whose films were repeatedly banned in the Soviet Union. Modern Russian film students express their excitement at seeing his film HAPPINESS for the first time, and his contemporaries shed light on his life and work.

Martin Scorsese describes his initial and growing obsession with films from the 1940s and 50s as the art form developed and grew with clips from classics and cult classics.

The making of Martin Scorsese s Oscar-nominated film Kundun was an historic event, the first feature film treatment of the life of the Fourteenth Dalai Lama of Tibet.

Cameramen and women discuss the craft and art of cinematography, illustrating their points with clips from 100 films, from The Birth of a Nation (1915) to Do the Right Thing (1989).

A documentary about the early years of silent films made in Britain. Showing that it wasn't just a few, easily dismissed comedies, but many high quality films including some very popular comedies and some fine dramas. Matthew Sweet shows through examples how the art and even the language of film was developed by some of these pioneers working in Britain.

A documentary about the life and work of Leni Riefenstahl, a German film director most notorious for making the most effective propaganda films for the Nazis.

Documentary on the life and times of Ken Loach. His politics in British TV and Cinema and the chaos he has caused the establishment for 50 years.

The life story of the film director, movie star and industry figure who furthered the cause of cinema: Lord Richard Attenborough.

Following the recent death of Ken Russell, Alan Yentob looks back over the career of the flamboyant film director responsible for Women In Love, Tommy and The Devils. Friends and admirers - including Glenda Jackson, Terry Gilliam, Twiggy, Melvyn Bragg, Robert Powell and Roger Daltrey - recall a pioneering documentary-maker, talented photographer and fearless film director.

The career and life of Stanley Kubrick is explored through pictures, clips from his films, his old home movies, comments from his colleagues and a narration by Tom Cruise.

A documentary series focusing on some of cinema's greatest film directors.

A film portrait of the influential Bavarian actor, director and screenwriter who publicly confessed his homosexuality.

An unprecedented look at the iconic shower scene in Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho (1960), the "man behind the curtain", and the screen murder that profoundly changed the course of world cinema.

Filmmakers discuss how Francois Truffaut's 1966 book "Cinema According to Hitchcock" influenced their work.

A short documentary about the making of and production of Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey and it's impact on the 60's view of the future.

A documentary telling the story of 100 years of filmmaking and television production in the towns of Elstree and Borehamwood - the British Hollywood - with stories from members of the film crews who actually worked there.

Kubrick Remembered is one of the supplementary bonus documentaries included in Stanley Kubrick: The Masterpiece Collection. This box set of eight Kubrick classics has films, from the 1962 Lolita to his final film, Eyes Wide Shut (1999). In addition to the eight discs (films), there are two more discs, making this a ten-disc set. It does include the previously-released supplements on each film, plus it features two new-to-disc documentaries and one new feature length film, along with a 78-page book of stills, storyboards, production art, script pages, and other production paraphernalia from the featured films. Part of this collection is the aforementioned bonus documentary, which is with the feature-length documentary Kubrick Remembered. Kubrick's widow opened up the Kubrick archives for this documentary, allowing all of us a closer glimpse into his methods.

An exploration of several interconnected subjects: The Cannes Film Festival, cinema art, money, glamor and death.

A look at the life of filmmaker John Milius.

An essay-film about Iranian pre-revolutionary popular cinema known as filmfarsi.